A World of Feathers in Sweden

Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm (SE)

client

National Museums of World Culture Sweden

location

Museum of Ethnography, Stockholm (SE)

completion

2018

status

temporary

The exhibition A World of Feathers, previously on view in the Museum of Ethnology in Leiden and the Africa Museum in Berg en Dal, is now on show in Sweden! Kossmann.dejong has adjusted the design of A World of Feathers, so visitors can experience the splendor of feathers from up close in the World Culture Museum in Gothenburg and in the Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm. This traveling exhibition is a showcase of our flexible, sustainable approach to exhibition design.

The themes of the exhibition have remained the same: it’s all about the wonder of nature and the human fascination with birds and their feathers. However, the large open spaces of both Swedish locations required a different layout to the sequence of rooms in Leiden and Berg en Dal. Kossmann.dejong has defined spatial, thematic zones through creating hanging circular installations of blown up feather patterns. In this colorful setting, visitors can wander freely through magical feathers, swaying dresses and whistling birds.

Through the inclusion of flexibility into the design, it was possible to smoothly fit existing ingredients such as the large bird cage and the dynamic haute couture catwalk into the new environment. A Swedish twist has also been integrated into the exhibition, in the form of work by the Swedish plume maker Tim Mårtenson, alternative feather designs from local students and unique collection items from the Swedish Museums. So, again a world of feathers is created, in a totally different setting, but with the same enchanting and engaging power.

A World of Feathers is on view at the Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm, where it will be open to visit from 29 September 2018 until 3 March 2019. For more information about the World of Feathers in Leiden, click here.